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Saturday, 10 August 2013

To celebrate the launch of of Wonderful Walter series in paperback, we have made Kindle versions of the first book: Wonderful Walter available for free this weekend. Do, please help yourselves and, if you enjoy the story, do please write a review or send us your feedback here.

Tuesday, 6 August 2013

I am very happy to announce that our children's book Wonderful Walter is now available in paperback via Amazon in the UK and Europe as well as in the United States. The book is aimed at 7-11 year-olds and has been read by education professionals and others who work with children, all of whom have commented on its appeal and value for children in that age group.
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Saturday, 3 August 2013

Making slow progress on our own, Bertie and I joined an excellent puppy
class. Here, we can learn how to work together on things like walking, stopping,
meeting other dogs, meeting people...and general obedience. Week 1 – Bertie
loved it, particularly because the trainer had a different kind of treats than
his usual ones, and because he had a chance to play with other puppies. The
first thing he learned was how to bark at another dog! Strangely, prior to puppy
class, Bertie had only barked once or twice and that was at his toys. Now he can
do a very loud bark, which is rather odd coming from a little dog.

Week 2 – Five minutes into the lesson, Bertie was no longer
interested. They say dogs are like their owners (or vice versa)...I have been
told that I enjoyed my first day at school (aged 4) but when woken to go the
next day, said, “I’ve been there and know what they do. I don’t need to go
anymore.” Hmm...Bertie obviously had the same idea. Suddenly every blade of
grass was more interesting than our ‘exercises’, and even the other puppies lost
their appeal.

Week 3 – Bertie didn’t want to get up and go. It took so much cajoling,
coaxing, commanding to even get him into the car and when we arrived at puppy
class, he spent most of it sitting with his back to the rest of the class.

Week 4 – Enough is enough, thought Bertie, who promptly ran away from puppy
class altogether! Eventually, after a huge amount of catching and tugging (how
can a small dog be so strong?) he ‘agreed’ to return but only to the advanced
class where the dogs were perfectly behaved and followed the most minute
instructions instantly. Clearly, because he has already devoured ‘A Tale of Two
Cities’, a biography of George IV, ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’ and two poetry
books from my bookshelf, he considers himself to be far too clever for the
reception class! Once in the advanced class, he jumped around a bit, getting in
the way of the advanced dogs, before wandering off in the opposite direction,
and generally disturbing the class, while the other obedient dogs merely looked
at him in disdain.

Oh well, at least he didn’t bite the trainer, like one dog I heard about
did!

Tomorrow we will start again...and I am trusting that, just as Samson lost his strength when he had his hair cut, Bertie has lost just a little of his wilfulness with his hair new cut...